Joint lock for rails



March 4, 1924. 1,485,582 L..'AHO ET AL JOINT LOOK FOR RAILS File d Ocjc. 13, 1925 'lea/fdefl 0W0 Patented Man t, 1924.

UNETE @Triff insane LEANDER AHO, OF TWEGOMAflAND ARNIE J. AHO, OF PRINCETON, MICHIGAN.

JOINT LOCK FO'E'MILS.

Application filed October 13, 1923. Serial Nb. 668,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEANDERV A110, a citizen of Finland, Europe, residing at Twecoma, in the county. of Gogebic and State of Michigan, and ARNIE 'J. A110, a citizen of the United States, residing at Princeton, inthe county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joint Looks for Rails, of which the following is a specificatiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to joint locks for rails and more particularly to a lock for the joints of the small rails of narrow gauge lines. An important object of the invention is to provide a joint or look for the adjacent ends of rails which combines the duties of a locking device and fish plate and which is so constructed that it may be readily removed at any time that it is desired to remove or shift the rails.

A still further object of the invention is s to provide a device of this character which may be very cheaply produced and which will be durablev and efficient in service.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein z- Figure 1 is a sectional View taken through a plate constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same applied to the adjacent ends of rails;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the joint and locking sleeve; and

Figure 4 is a detached perspective showing the sections of the joint.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a plate of a size to fit between the head 11 and flange 12 of a rail, the upper and lower edges of the plate being beveled, as at 13, to conform to the bevel of the under surface of the head and the upper surface of the flange. The plate 10 has formed thereon lugs 1% locked at opposite ends of the plate, these lugs being adapted to project through openings 15 formed in the webs of the rails which are to be connected.

The ends of the lugs which project beyond the face of the rail are furcated, as indicated at 16, to receive the reduced end portions of a bar 17. The bar 17 is formed in two sections 18 and 19, each comprising a body portion of a diameter such that when the section is parallel to the web of the rail its face engages against the face of the rail in order to prevent movement of the rail relative to the plate 10. The free ends of the sections are each provided with a reduced portion. The reduced portion 20 of the section 19 is substantially V-shaped and the reduced portion 21 of the section 18 is provided in its end with a V-shaped notch receiving the ./-shaped extension 20 of the section 19. Slidably mounted upon the reduced extension 21 of the. section 18 is a sleeve 22 of such length that when it is drawn to the limit of its movement-toward the attached end of the section 18 a notch 23 of the section 21 is exposed. With the sleeve in this position the sections 18 and 19 can be swung into alignment with one another so that the extension 20 is engaged in the notch. The sleeve 22 is then shifted longitudinally until it covers the joint thus formed and in this position prevents movement of the sections 18 and 19 with relation to one another. As a means for providing for sliding of the sleeve upon the extension 21 and for locking of the same in adjusted position we provide in the sleeve a bayonet slot 24 in which is engaged a lug. 25 formed on the extension 21. It will be seen from the foregoing that a locking plate of this character may be readily applied to the rails or removed therefrom and when in applied position will very firmly hold the rails against relative movement. It will be obvious that this structure is capable of a certain range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of our invention and we accordingly do not limit ourselves to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim 1. A rail lock for connecting the adjacent ends of rails comprising a plate of a width to fit between the head and flange of a rail and against the web thereof, said plate being provided with lugs extending through openings formed in the web of the rail, 3. bar formed in two sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of said lugs, said sections being shiftable to points in alignment with the lugs or to points parallel to said plate, said sections embodying portions which when inthe last named position abut against the opposite face of the rail web fromthe plate to prevent movement of the plate with relation to the rail web and of the rails with relation to one another, and means carried by one of the sections for locking the sections together.

2. A rail lock for connecting the adjacent ends of rails comprising a plate of a width to fit between the head and flange of a rail and against the web thereof, said plate being provided with lugs extending through openings formed in the Web of the rail, a

bar formed in two sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of said lugs, said sections being shiftab-le to points in alignment withthe lugs or to points parallel to saidplate, said sections embodying portions which when in the last named position abut against the opposite face of the rail web from'the plate to prevent movement'of the plate with relation to the rail web and of the rails with relation to one another, and means carried by one of the sections for looking the sections together, said sections having interlocking free end portions.

3. A rail lock for connecting the adjacent ends of rails comprising a plate of a width to fit between the head and flange of a rail and against the web thereof, said plate being provided with lugs extending through openings formed in the web of the rail, a bar formed in two sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of said lugs, said sections being shiftable to points in alignment with the lugs or to points parallel to said plate, said sections embodying portions which when in the last named position abut neeaeea point enclosing the interlocking connection,

of the sections.

4. A- rail lock for connecti ng the adjacent ends of rails comprising aplateof a width to fit between thehead and flange of a rail and against'the web thereof, said'plate being provided with lugsextending through openings formed in the web of the rail,a bar formed in two sections, each section being pivotally engagedwith one of said lugs, said sections being shiftable to points in alignment with th lugs or to points'parallelto: saidvplate, said sections embodying portions which when in the last named position abut against the opposite face of the rail web from the plate to preventmovement of theplate with relation to the railweb and of the rails with relation to one another, means carried by one of the sections for locking".

the sections together, said sections having interlocking free end portions, saidlocking means comprising a sleeve slidablexupon one of the sections and shiftable to a point en-. closing the interlocking connection of the sections, and means forlocking the sleevein such position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix;

our signatures;

LEANDER AHO. ARNIE J. AHO. 

